Today's News

25 Years Ago
A 45-pound beaver was found dead by the side of the road. It was believed to be one of three beavers that constructed a 7-foot-high dam in Walnut Hill off Hwy. 27. Its tail was 12 inches long and 5 inches wide. Harriman taxidermist Johnny Newberry stuffed the beaver for permanent display in the Harriman Utility Board lobby. Because of its uniqueness, the dam drew so many visitors that officials built a walkway leading to and from the site.

Editor’s Note: Readers are cautioned that some names may be the same as, or similar to, other members of the community.March 10 — Austin R. Taylor, 19, 819 Maple St., Princeton, Ky.: violation drinking age law. Bond $1,000; court date April 9.

By Ellen Probert Williamson
In ancient times, spices and perfumes were interchangeable. Herbs were used for everything from cooking and decorating to medicine.

Rose water and musk were used to flavor foods. Vanilla and cinnamon were used as perfume. Frankincense and myrrh, used both in the kitchen and in perfumes, were the gifts chosen for the Christ Child because they were the most valuable commodities in the ancient world.

By KEN PAULSON
First Amendment Center
At the height of the controversy over the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act debate, critics of the bills described them as an assault on Internet freedom and the subversion of the First Amendment.

The advocates had a point. The proposed laws were arguably overbroad, and we should all be very careful before we give government greater latitude in shutting down websites.

Still, it’s striking to see what a real attack on Internet freedom looks like.

The attorney for Milford Barnett asked the judge overseeing his client’s second-degree murder case for a continuance and change of venue.
The trial was scheduled to start on Tuesday, but Walter Johnson claimed the jury pool was tainted by a story that appeared in the Monday edition of the Roane County News.

Rockwood Public Works Director Tom Pierce continues to be on administrative leave without pay after auditors raised red flags about some questionable city credit card purchases.
At a meeting Monday, Rockwood officials said Pierce’s attorney asked for more time to gather and present information to defend his case.
Mayor James Watts asked council members to consider extending his administrative leave, an issue that wasn’t on the agenda.

By MIKE GIBSONnewsroom@roanecounty.com
The cost of a new Kingston City Hall will be thousands of dollars cheaper — as will the annual tally of the rest of the city’s debt — thanks to the foresight of Kingston City Council.
In November, Council moved to apply for an issuers rating from Moody’s Investors Service, at a one-time cost of $5,100 dollars.
For the relatively small cost, the move offered Kingston the opportunity to save significantly on current and future loans should it receive a high rating from the firm.

Pets won’t be permitted in the Roane County Courthouse under a plan Sheriff Jack Stockton is crafting.
“We’re going to go by what the law says, and it looks like service animals are going to be the only animals that are going to be permitted into the courthouse,” he said. “All of them that fall under the Disability Act.”
The situation is under review after state Rep. Julia Hurley took her Chinese crested into the courthouse.

As of Tuesday morning, Everett Massengill was not among the people the Roane County Election Commission had identified as candidates for the Aug. 2 election.
Massengill represents District 7, the South of the River area, on the Board of Education.
Earlier this year, Massengill said he would not seek another term.
District 1 Board Member and former Rockwood mayor Mike “Brillo” Miller said he was trying to get him to reconsider.
On Monday, Massengill said he was still pondering the situation.